Chelsea twice came from behind to avoid an FA Cup shock with a 4-2 extra-time victory at 10-man Wrexham.
With Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac in attendance, the ambitious Welsh outfit were dreaming of a famous victory when they took the lead at a raucous Stok Cae Ras through Sam Smith. A fortuitous own goal allowed the sluggish Londoners to equalise but the Red Dragons' hopes were rekindled with an improvised finish from Callum Doyle 12 minutes from time.
Yet it was not to be as Josh Acheampong levelled for a second time and Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro secured Chelsea's quarter-final spot in extra time after the hosts had George Dobson sent off.
Wrexham felt they deserved more and thought they had made it 3-3 before Pedro's late strike through Lewis Brunt but his effort was ruled narrowly offside by VAR in a pulsating finish. It was a heartbreaking way for Wrexham's cup run to end but, nevertheless, the occasion marked another notable chapter in their remarkable rise.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
Wrexham v Chelsea LIVE: Latest FA Cup updates
- Chelsea scrape past 10-man Wrexham 4-2 after extra time to avoid huge FA Cup shock
- 115' - NO GOAL! Brunt's equaliser ruled out for offside after VAR check to break Wrexham hearts (WRE 2-3 CHE)
- 97' - GOAL! Garnacho calmly volleys home to give Chelsea the lead for the first time (WRE 2-3 CHE)
- 90+2' - RED CARD! Wrexham midfielder Dobson sent off after VAR check for clattering Garnacho (WRE 2-2 CHE)
- 82' - GOAL! Acheampong equalises again with quality finish (WRE 2-2 CHE)
- 78' - GOAL! Doyle flicks powerful Windass shot beyond Sanchez as underdogs retake lead (WRE 2-1 CHE)
- 40' - GOAL! Unfortunate Okonkwo own goal draws Chelsea level (WRE 1-1 CHE)
- 18' - GOAL! Smith chases a ball over the top and finishes beautifully to give underdogs the lead (WRE 1-0 CHE)
'Tough one to take' for Wrexham
21:03 , Luke BakerWrexham defender Callum Doyle, who scored one goal and assisted the other, spoke to BBC Sport after the game.
“It is a tough one to take against a top side,” said Doyle. “I thought we did really well until the last part of the game. The sending off didn't help us.
On his goal: “It happened so fast. Josh [Windass] is fuming that I took it. It was just a little flick and it paid off!
“It is a big test, and they're a big side in the big leagues, and it is a good test for us against top players. We have another game on Tuesday, so we have to keep going.”
On aiming from promotion to the Premier League: “Hopefully, that is the target, but we have just got to stick at it.”
WATCH: Chelsea edge past Wrexham
20:40 , Luke BakerWhat a match. And Chelsea eventually scrape past their Championship opponents
FULL-TIME! Wrexham 2-4 Chelsea
20:34 , Luke BakerIt’s all over! What a cup tie that was. Superb entertainment for 120 minutes.
Chelsea had to work so, so hard but scraped through in the end, with Wrexham playing the whole of extra time with 10 men after George Dobson’s red card.
Alejandro Garnacho scored the vital goal in extra time before Joao Pedro added some gloss with the final kick of the game.
Chelsea into the quarter-finals, while Wrexham return to their Championship promotion chase.
GOAL! Wrexham 2-4 CHELSEA (Joao Pedro, 120+5 mins)
20:31 , Luke BakerAnd that’s the game! Joao Pedro has looked class since coming on and he seals it at the death.
He strides forwards, has options left and right but shifts the ball on to his right foot as he reaches the edge of the area and rifles it into the corner form 15 yards out. Nothing Okonkwo could do.
Belatedly, Chelsea get the job done.
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 120+3 mins
20:30 , Luke BakerChelsea taking as long as they can with every throw-in or goal-kick now. They just want to hear the final whistle. Only around 90 seconds left now.
CLOSE! Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 120+1 mins
20:28 , Luke BakerOh, that was the chance! Surely it had to go in?
The ball falls to O’Brien on the edge of the Chelsea box and he tries to curl it first-time into the far corner but it slips agonisingly wide of Sanchez’s post. Some of the crowd were sure it was going in.
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 120 mins
20:27 , Luke BakerFive minutes of injury time for Wrexham to salvage something here
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 118 mins
20:26 , Luke BakerDo Wrexham have anything left in their locker after that heartbreaking disallowing of the goal?
The crowd are livid here and tensions on the pitch are spilling over now. Kieffer Moore clatters Cucurella and then leans over his prone body to shout at him, much to the annoyance of the rest of the Chelsea players.
Moore gets a yellow card for his troubles and Garnacho is then also booked for waving an imaginary yellow card at the referee.
NO GOAL! Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 115 mins
20:22 , Luke BakerHeartbreak for Wrexham! The lines are out and it shows that Brunt was offside by the narrowest of margins! Did he need to touch it? Was Moore’s flick going in anyway? Hard to say.
Brunt had to turn it in really. It’s agonising. So tight.
VAR CHECK! Wrexham 3-3 Chelsea, 114 mins
20:21 , Luke BakerUh oh. A VAR check... Has Lewis Brunt just strayed offside?
GOAL! WREXHAM 3-3 Chelsea (Lewis Brunt, 113 mins)
20:20 , Luke BakerOH MY! OUT OF NOWHERE, WREXHAM ARE LEVEL.
Moore sees his header blocked by Tosin for a Red Dragons corner.
It’s whipped in, Moore flicks it on and, at the back post, Lewis Brunt bundles it in on the goal-line! Ten-man Wrexham have equalised, incredible!
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 112 mins
20:19 , Luke BakerOne last change for Wrexham as Davis Keillor-Dunn is thrown on as an extra body up top for defender Max Cleworth.
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 110 mins
20:17 , Luke BakerAndrey Santos shown a yellow card for moaning about the deicsion.
This is 20 yards out. Reminiscent of Mickey Thomas’s famous goal against Arsenal all those years ago...
Josh Windass lines it up but it’s way too high. Well over the bar. That’s a real missed chance for the Red Dragons.
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 108 mins
20:15 , Luke BakerWrexham trying to sit in before presumably giving it a real go for the final few minutes.
Having said that, they break and Gusto fouls Moore on the edge of the box. Free-kick right on the edge for Wrexham. What a chance this is...
KICK-OFF! Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea
20:12 , Luke BakerFinal 15 minutes of this FA Cup tie. One last sub for Wrexham as the excellent Callum Doyle is replaced by Lewis Brunt in a defensive switch
HALF-TIME (of extra time)! Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea
20:09 , Luke BakerA free-kick about 30 yards out for Chelsea and Okonkwo tips Garnacho’s effort over the bar. The corner comes to nothing and when a Wrexham counter peters out, that’s half-time of extra time.
Chelsea have one foot in the quarter-finals, seemingly on the brink of victory against the 10-man Championship side thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s goal. Is there any way back for the Red Dragons?
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 105 mins
20:06 , Luke BakerAnother beautiful pass from Pedro to send Cucurella marauding forward.
He gets into the box but dithers too long over the shot and is crowded out by red shirts. Should’ve got the shot away but ominous once again from Chelsea.
Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea, 101 mins
20:03 , Luke BakerJesse Derry (son of former Crystal Palace, Leeds and QPR man Shaun) is on for Pedro Neto. And Derry immediately gets fouled by Thomason who stands on him.
Chelsea players not happy but it seemed to genuinely be accidental. Either way, Thomason gets a yellow card, although the Blues wanted more
GOAL! Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea (Alejandro Garnacho, 97 mins)
20:00 , Luke BakerAnd there’s the breakthrough! Which had been coming...
It’s beautifully done by Chelsea, as Essugo curls a gorgeous ball into the back post where Alejandro Garnacho has ghosted in behind the defence and side-foots a volley past Okonkwo.
Classily done! The ball hits the base of the stanchion at the back of the net and bounces out, so there’s a bit of confusion from the fans who haven’t realised it’s gone int but just a quality goal all round.
Can Wrexham find a way back from here?
CHANCE! Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea, 96 mins
19:56 , Luke BakerChelsea are starting to pile on the pressure now. Another ball into the box, Garnacho picks it up at he back post, cuts past one man and puts the ball into the centre of the box.
Guiu with the shot, it bounces around and looks like it will go in but Okonkwo able to make the save and dive on it
Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea, 95 mins
19:54 , Luke BakerNeto skips past a couple of challenges but O’Brien gets back well to nick the ball away with a sliding tackle.
Chelsea attack from the throw-in however and Santos gets a shot away but it lacks power and Okonkwo deals with it easily enough.
Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea, 93 mins
19:53 , Luke BakerIt will be interesting to see how Wrexham approach this. Do they try to play for penalties? Even after going down to 10 men they looked fairly threatening though.
KICK-OFF! Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea
19:50 , Luke BakerThirty minutes of extra time and then, possibly, penalties.
Ryan Barnett on for Ryan Longman for Wrexham to begin the additional half an hour
WATCH: George Dobson sent off for reckless challenge
19:50 , Luke BakerHere’s how George Dobson was sent off in injury time for Wrexham. Reckless from the midfielder
FULL-TIME! Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea
19:45 , Luke BakerThere’s the full-time whistle. We’re heading for 30 minutes of extra time now.
Wrexham will be down to 10 men for it of course after George Dobson’s late sending off
Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea, 90+6 mins
19:43 , Luke BakerWrexham surge forward as we come towards the end of injury-time but we’re surely headed to 30 minutes of extras?
RED CARD! WREXHAM 2-2 Chelsea (George Dobson, 90+2 mins)
19:40 , Luke BakerAnd it’s upgraded to red! George Dobson sent off for Wrexham.
Replays show that the first contact was higher than initially thought - it looks like Dobson clatters him shin-high. The pace of the challenge made it dangerous as well.
“F*** VAR” rings round the ground from the Wrexham fans but they can’t really have any complaints.
VAR CHECK! Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea, 90 mins
19:38 , Luke BakerThat’s not particularly clever from George Dobson... He’s been great today but that’s naughty.
Garnacho is surging forward and Dobson lunges in, clattering the Brazilian. He starts high but ends lower, with his foot more or less on the ground but there was an initial jump...
He gets a yellow card but there’s word from VAR for the referee to check...
CROSSBAR! Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea, 88 mins
19:36 , Luke BakerWas that the moment for Chelsea? Malo Gusto and Joao Pedro come on for Delap and Acheampong, with Pedro immediately involved.
He brilliantly slips in Garnacho, who cuts it bakc to Neto ont he edge of the area and Neto thunders a strike at goal that rattles back off the crossbar and clear. Let-off for Wrexham!
What a cup tie!
SAVE! Wrexham 2-2 Chelsea, 84 mins
19:31 , Luke BakerWrexham haven’t given up yet! They surge forward and Thomason shoots at goal from the left, forcing Sanchez to dive and tip the shot away with his left hand. Close!
GOAL! Wrexham 2-2 CHELSEA (Josh Acheampong, 82 mins)
19:30 , Luke BakerNo they can’t! Chelsea level and it’s a superb finish from Josh Acheampong!
Essugo sees a pass blocked by Dobson but Dobson’s next touch is heavy, he slips. Essugo nicks it back and plays it to Acheampong on the right of the box. He outmuscles Thomason and fires a shot into the top corner at the bear post. Class finish!
Wrexham 2-1 Chelsea, 80 mins
19:28 , Luke BakerCan Wrexham find a way to see this game out?
GOAL! WREXHAM 2-1 Chelsea (Callum Doyle, 78 mins)
19:26 , Luke BakerOH MY WORD! Wrexham lead again!
Not a great corner from Dobson, headed away by the first man but it falls to Windass. He lashes a powerful low shot on the half-volley from 25 yards and Callum Doyle, back-flicks it, sending the ball past the diving Sanchez.
He knew exactly what he was doing there! Completely deliberate and Wrexham lead with 10 minutes to go!
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 77 mins
19:24 , Luke BakerSliding block from Essugo to intercept a Longman cross, although it flies out for a corner. Big Kieffer Moore in the heart of the box trying to cause issues but headed behind for another corner.
Dobson trudges over ready to whip it in.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 75 mins
19:23 , Luke BakerNeto lashes at goal from a tight angle but it’s into the side netting.
At the other end, Longman whips in a cross from the right but Sanchez comes off his line to claim well.
Another attacking sub from Phil Parkinson as Nathan Broadhead comes on for Vyner.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 72 mins
19:18 , Luke BakerChelsea win the corner - up come the big men... The first cross is headed away, it’s worked back to the left and Garnacho fires at goal but it’s straight down Okonkwo’s throat.
Into the final 20 minutes - are we headed for extra time?
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 69 mins
19:14 , Luke BakerO’Brien wins an attacking throw-in off Neto before he then wins the ball back after Windass loses it. He’s had a good game today.
Thomason flashes a low cross into the box and Cucurella can only knee it behind for a corner! It’s a poor one though as it fails to clear the first man Garnacho.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 66 mins
19:13 , Luke BakerDouble Chelsea change as left-back Marc Cucurella comes on to add some grit to the Chelsea team. Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo also comes on for just his fourth Chelsea appearance. Hato and Lavia depart.
Phil Parkinson responds with two Wrexham changes. Goalscorer Sam Smith comes off to a huge ovation, with Kieffer Moore coming on, while Josh Windass is also on in attack for Ollie Rathbone.
CLOSE! Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 64 mins
19:10 , Luke BakerHow has that missed?!? Hato does really well in the corner to escape from a phone box and flicks the ball to Neto. He somehow weaves between three men in the box and the ball falls to Hato again, who shoots on the turn.
It flashes across the face of goal, looks like it will settle in the far corner but spins millimetres wide!
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 62 mins
19:09 , Luke BakerWrexham win a second corner as a long-range shot is deflected wide. O’Brien then lashes another shot into the box, it bounces around and the crowd appeal for handball against Guiu. Chelsea thump clear.
VAR has a look but nothing doing on the handball front but another warning sign for Chelsea
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 61 mins
19:07 , Luke BakerTosin clatters O’Brien, giving Wrexham a good chance to get the ball into the box.
They have a couple of bites of the cherry, the ball bounces and Hyam, Doyle and O’Brien all have a crack at it but it won’t sit kindly.
Shortly afterwards, a hospital pass from Sanchez out to Lavia, who really didn’t want it! Vyner gets it back and strikes at goal but it’s blocked and Chelsea scramble clear, only to concede a corner now.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 58 mins
19:05 , Luke BakerDobson pesters Lavia in the middle of the park and forces the Chelsea man to go backwards. Dobson is such a brilliant pest, an old-school terrier in midfield.
The Wrexham fans are really into this - they’ve been making non-stop noise.
An interesting substitution from Liam Rosenior as he sends Marc Guiu on for Mamadou Sarr. A striker on for a centre-back... Change of shape for Chelsea (probably to a back four) and Rosenior will be hoping for more punch going forward
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 55 mins
19:01 , Luke BakerNice play by Chelsea as one-touch play, including a well-weighted pass from Delap sends Garnacho streaking away down the left.
He shapes inside and fires a shot at goal but it goes comfortably wide of the far post, to sarcastic jeers from the home fans.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 51 mins
18:58 , Luke BakerBetter from Chelsea as Delap brings down Sanchez’s long ball superbly and shows good strength to bring teammates into play.
Lavia eventually strikes at goal but it’s harmlessly wide.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 49 mins
18:57 , Luke BakerLongman’s cross is blocked out for a corner by Hato. The initial ball in from the set-piece is cleared but Longman whips it back in and Cleworth rises but heads over the bar. Decent chance that.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 47 mins
18:54 , Luke BakerWrexham continue their pressing game to begin the second half. Their intensity so far has been brilliant - Chelsea defenders given no time on the ball. Can they keep it up for 90 minutes?
Chelsea will dominate possession but they lacked cutting edge in the first half
KICK-OFF! Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea
18:52 , Luke BakerBack underway in north Wales. Hopefully just as entertaining a half of football as the first
WATCH: Unlucky Okonkwo own goal draws Chelsea level
18:42 , Luke BakerHere’s how Chelsea drew level. More than just a slice of fortune to it...
HALF-TIME! Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea
18:36 , Luke BakerA compelling first half of FA Cup action. Wrexham deservedly took the lead through a lovely Sam Smith finish after Callum Doyle’s superb ball over the top.
Smith has looked really lively against Chelsea’s back three but the Blues equalised in fortunate style five minutes before the break as Alejandro Garnacho’s shot was cleared off the line but only into the back of the prone Arthur Okonkwo and it bounced into the net for an own goal.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 45+2 mins
18:33 , Luke BakerA slight flap from Okonkwo but Wrexham scramble the corner away. Chelsea have been pressing more since the equaliser.
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 45 mins
18:32 , Luke BakerThree minutes of injury-time to end this first half. Chelsea win a corner as Garnacho sees a cross blocked
Wrexham 1-1 Chelsea, 42 mins
18:32 , Luke BakerNo real show of emotion from Liam Rosenior on the sideline, although the Chelsea boss does look relieved after that equaliser went in.
GOAL! Wrexham 1-1 CHELSEA (Okonkwo own goal, 40 mins)
18:29 , Luke BakerOH NO! That’s so unlucky for Wrexham.
Delap does really well to deal with a scuffed clearance from Sanchez and he strides forward. The ball is slipped wide to Garnacho on the left.
He cuts in and shoots at goal, which Thomason does well to clear off the line but his clearance goes straight into the prone body of Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who dived to save the initial shot, and rebounds into the net!
Chelsea level although they barely deserve it
Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 38 mins
18:26 , Luke BakerDoyle just shows extra desire to get to the ball and bundle his way into the box. His shot is deflected and spins wide for a Wrexham corner.
Chelsea scramble it clear but the Championship side are attacking with a purpose.
Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 36 mins
18:23 , Luke BakerTell you what - the Red Dragons are good value for this lead. They look dangerous in attack and are very disciplined in defence.
They’re doubling up on Garnacho who is looking increasingly frustrated.
Chelsea have had two-thirds of possession but no cutting edge to speak of.
SAVE! Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 32 mins
18:19 , Luke BakerOkonkwo does well to dive on a ball in the Wrexham box ahead of Hato coming in. Brave goalkeeping - putting his head where some wouldn’t put their feet!
Then, at the other end, Longman forces Sanchez into a save! He runs at Badiashile, gets into the box and strikes for goal. It takes a slight deflection off Badiashile and Sanchez has to tip it over the bar.
The corner comes to nothing but another warning for Chelsea.
WATCH: Sam Smith gives Wrexham shock lead
18:18 , Luke BakerHere’s the moment Sam Smith scored for Wrexham. Class ball from Doyle, lovely finish. It’s how the underdogs lead
Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 29 mins
18:17 , Luke BakerOoooh, that was a chance for Sam Smith! He did so well for the goal but indecision costs him here.
It’s another ball over the top that causes Chelsea’s back three all sorts of bother. Smith can charge into the box, to the left of the goal, but tries to cut back inside on to his right foot and slips - watching the chance go begging.
He had a golden chance to hit it with his left - had to strike it!
Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 27 mins
18:15 , Luke BakerChelsea have settled back into the rhythm of dominating possession but they’re offering little going forward. Food for thought for Liam Rosenior.
SAVE! Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 24 mins
18:10 , Luke BakerWrexham look lively here. Dobson whips a cros in from the right, one bounce and Cleworth flicks it goalwards, with Sanchez doing well to tip it over the bar.
Ah, the flag went up anyway as Cleworth was marginally offside, so wouldn’t have counted.
Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 22 mins
18:09 , Luke BakerFirst yellow card of the day and it goes to Romeo Lavia. good work by Vyner in midfield, sidestepping Lavia who resorts to clinging on to his shirt and pulling him. Right in front of the referee, who brings out his yellow card.
Wrexham 1-0 Chelsea, 20 mins
18:08 , Luke BakerDream stuff for the underdogs and Stok Cae Ras went wild after that goal. They’ve got the lead they wanted - can they now hold on?
Chelsea will attack now and they immediately put a ball into the box that Okonkwo does well to claim.
GOAL! WREXHAM 1-0 Chelsea (Sam Smith, 18 mins)
18:06 , Luke BakerThere’s the first shot AND THERE’S THE FIRST GOAL!
It’s sublime from Wrexham and the underdogs lead! A stunning long ball over the top from Doyle for Sam Smith to chase. He times his run perfectly, on Tosin’s shoulder and bursting clear.
A stunning first touch bringing the ball down out of the air and then slotting past Robert Sanchez with his next touch. Class! Pure class!
It’s the fifth round now, so we have a VAR check but THE GOAL STANDS! Wow.
Wrexham 0-0 Chelsea, 17 mins
18:03 , Luke BakerNo clear-cut chances for either side yet. In fact, nothing for either goalkeeper to do so far. IN FACT neither side have actually taken a shot yet... We await our first with bated breath.
Wrexham 0-0 Chelsea, 15 mins
18:02 , Luke BakerAndrey Santos nips the ball away from Doyle on halfway and is clattered by the Wrexham man for his troubles. Referee Peter Bankes considers a card but just a free-kick in the end.
Garnacho then goes on a weaving run down the left. Longman and Rathbone both have a nibble at the Chelsea winger and it’s Longman who trips him to bring him down.
Wrexham 0-0 Chelsea, 12 mins
17:59 , Luke BakerNeto runs down the right, then cuts in, skipping past Doyle and setting up to shoot from the edge of the area before Dobson does really well to get a foot in and nick the ball away.
The former Charlton midfielder is a tackling machine, consistently topping the charts for tackles made. A crucial one there.
Wrexham 0-0 Chelsea, 10 mins
17:57 , Luke BakerA 50-50 between Garnacho and Longman and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Wrexham man wins it.
A water break is taken to allow the Muslim players to break their fast now the sun has gone down. Mamadou Sarr takes that opportunity. No booing from the crowd unlike at Leeds the other day, thankfully...
Wrexham 0-0 Chelsea, 7 mins
17:53 , Luke BakerChelsea confidently knocking the ball about now - they’ll dominate possession this evening.
Badiashile with a pinged ball over the top that Garnacho just about gets to at the byline and hooks into the box but no Blues shirt can get there. Wrexham clear into the stands.
Wrexham 0-0 Chelsea, 5 mins
17:51 , Luke BakerThe atmosphere here is sensational. Stok Cae Ras is absolutely rocking as the Wrexham fans sing song after song.
We saw a lot of Ryan Reynolds pre kick-off but Rob McElhenney is here as well.
Wrexham 0-0 Chelsea, 2 mins
17:49 , Luke BakerWrexham start with a purpose, ripping into tackles and trying to set the intensity early on.
But then a heavy touch from Ryan Longman, who has the ball pinched and Chelsea surge forwards. Alejandro Garnacho cuts the ball back from the left but Wrexham scramble clear
KICK-OFF! Wrexham v Chelsea
17:47 , Luke BakerChelsea, as they did in midweek, huddle over the ball on the centre spot just before kick-off. Part of Liam Rosenior’s ‘mind games’.
Anyway, after that, we’re underway
Wrexham v Chelsea
17:46 , Luke BakerTeams are out in north Wales and kick-off is imminent. Can Wrexham add to their Hollywood story?
Phil Parkinson relishing Wrexham's 'opportunity to test themselves'
17:38 , Luke BakerWrexham boss Phil Parkinson has been speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the clash
“Before the Forest game [in the last round], we spoke to the lads about this being our chance to create some memories for our supporters. We have worked hard to get to this round. Tonight is a great opportunity to test ourselves against a top-class team.
On beating Chelsea with Bradford in the FA Cup in 2015: “That day was very special, and it is one that will always be remembered by Bradford City supporters and everyone who remembers the day.”
Wrexham v Chelsea: The road to the fifth round
17:30 , Jamie BraidwoodWrexham
Third round: vs Nottingham Forest, 3-3, won 4-3 on pens
Fourth round: vs Ipswich, 1-0
Chelsea
Third round: vs Charlton, 1-5
Fourth round: vs Hull, 0-4
Liam Rosenior has 'watched a few' episodes of Welcome to Wrexham
17:22 , Jamie BraidwoodChelsea boss Liam Rosenior admitted he has enjoyed following Wrexham’s rise via their documentary series 'Welcome to Wrexham', which charts the club's progress under the ownership of Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.
"I've seen a few (episodes)," said Rosenior. "When you see a club grow, develop and come up through the leagues, it's a great story.
"I think Phil [Parkinson] does an incredible job. The position they're in in the league as well. We know it's going to be a really difficult game. It's a club that's on the rise, there's a good energy and a good vibe around them.”
Wrexham v Chelsea: FA Cup stats
17:15 , Jamie Braidwood- Wrexham and Chelsea are meeting for the first time since the 1981-82 season. That season, Wrexham and Chelsea played an FA Cup fourth-round tie that required two additional replays.
- Wrexham are into the fifth round for the first time since the 1996-97 season. They reached the quarter-finals that season, one of three times they have reached that stage after 973-74 and 1977-78.
Wrexham's 'everything to gain, nothing to lose' mindset
17:08 , Jamie BraidwoodAfter consecutive promotions, Wrexham are the in-form team in the Championship, up into the play-off places and on a run of three straight wins. The Premier League may be the ultimate goal, but Phil Parkinson says the FA Cup is not a distraction.
"When we beat Ipswich (in the fourth round) we spoke to the lads about putting the Chelsea game on the backburner, concentrate on the league form," Parkinson said. "We go into this weekend with an 'everything to gain, nothing to lose' mindset, but also in a strong position in the league.
"This is the next stage for us against a team of Chelsea's quality. The main thing on the night is to bring our best performance, but also for ourselves, to see where we are individually and collectively against a team of this standing."
Hollywood in the house
16:56 , Jamie BraidwoodCo-owner Ryan Reynolds is in attendance this afternoon and the Deadpool star has been glad-handing pre-match
Wrexham team news
16:52 , Luke BakerAnd here’s how Wrexham line up. Central midfielder George Dobson was an injury doubt as he recovers from wrist surgery but he’s fit to start.
However, Issy Kabore isn’t in the squad after suffering hamstring tightness and Nathan Broadhead is only on the bench after a knock last time out.
Sam Smith leads the line with Lewis O’Brien and Ollie Rathbone among the other attacking threats.
Wrexham XI: Okonwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; Longman, Dobson, Vyner, Thomason; Rathbone, O’Brien; Smith.
Tonight's squad. Up the Town 👊
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) March 7, 2026
🔴⚪ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/H3bbzP33K3
Chelsea team news
16:38 , Luke BakerThe teams are out and here’s how Chelsea will line up. Nine changes from their last match - will that rotation give Wrexham a chance...?
Rory Delap will lead the line, with Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho providing the other creative attacking heft.
It looks potentially like three at the back with Tosin, Benoit Badiashile and Mamadou Sarr as that trio and then Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato as the wing-backs.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Tosin, Badiashile, Sarr; Acheampong, Lavia, Santos, Hato; Neto, Delap, Garnacho
Nine changes for tonight’s FA Cup action! 🔵 #CFC |#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/OPRcocSfTk
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 7, 2026
Chelsea's impressive record against lower-league opposition
16:30 , Jamie BraidwoodSpeaking of, the last time Chelsea lost to a team from a lower division in the FA Cup was that 4-2 defeat to Phil Parkinson’s Bradford in 2015, with the Blues winning their last 24 ties.
Among top-flight teams, only Arsenal (28 from January 1998 to January 2013) and Man Utd (30 from January 1985 to February 2009) have had a longer run of eliminating lower league teams.
Wrexham boss has special memories of facing Chelsea in FA Cup
16:15 , Jamie BraidwoodWrexham boss Phil Parkinson is already responsible for one famous FA Cup upset against Chelsea.
He was in charge of Bradford when they came from 2-0 down to beat Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in a fourth-round clash in 2015.
"I was thinking about it this week leading into the game," Parkinson said. "The build-up to that, the preparations and the principles we took into the game.
"We were two down but playing well in the game. We didn't let it knock us, we kept believing and stuck to the game plan and got the goal back before half-time. Obviously it was a memorable second half!
"We mentioned that to the players, on Saturday everything is possible.”
Liam Rosenior 'delighted' to have Romeo Lavia available from start
16:00 , Jamie BraidwoodAfter spending three and a half months out, Romeo Lavia played 15 minutes in each of the team's last two games, last Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal and the 4-1 win over Aston Villa in midweek, and Liam Rosenior was optimistic of the midfielder playing a significant role in the coming months, starting with Saturday's fifth-round tie.
"I'm delighted for him," he said. "Romeo will definitely play a part. He'll play a huge part for the rest of the season.
"We know his attributes. He's been itching to play. We've tried to build him in the best possible way. He's definitely going to play in these next few games."
What is the Chelsea team news?
15:45 , Jamie BraidwoodFor Chelsea, Romeo Lavia will feature but this match will likely come too soon for Dario Essugo and Estevao and Jamie Gittens is also sidelined until later this month. The main decisions for Rosenior will concern who to start, considering the club have a Champions League tie against PSG coming up, as well as who to pick in goal, after dropping Robert Sanchez for the win at Aston Villa.
Possible Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Sarr, Hato; Santos, Lavia; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Delap.
What is the Wrexham team news?
15:36 , Jamie BraidwoodThe hosts could be missing a key trio in the form of George Dobson, Issy Kabore and Nathan Broadhead, who are all doubts. Dobson required surgery on his wrist, while Broadhead took a knock last time out and Kabore has supposed tightness in his hamstring.
Ben Sheaf, Liberato Cacace and Matty James are also doubts, while Lewis Brunt and Aaron James are both sidelined.
Possible Wrexham XI: Okonwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; Kabore, Dobson, O’Brien, Thomason; Broadhead, Rathbone; Moore.
When is Wrexham v Chelsea and how can I watch it?
15:32 , Jamie BraidwoodThe match is scheduled to kick off at 5.45pm on Saturday, 7 March at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, Wales.
Viewers can watch the match live in the UK both TNT Sports 1 and BBC One, with coverage starting at 5pm on TNT and 5:30pm on the BBC. Subscribers can also stream the action on discovery+, or watch for free on BBC iPlayer. In the US, the FA Cup can be viewed on ESPN.
Wrexham v Chelsea build-up
15:31 , Jamie BraidwoodLiam Rosenior’s side are hoping to make the last eight for the fifth time in seven seasons. While the Blues haven’t won the competition since 2018, they’ve been runners-up in three of the last six seasons.
Although Chelsea will likely regard the FA Cup as their best chance at a trophy this term, they won’t disregard the threat posed by Wrexham as the Championship outfit look to make more history.
Good afternoon
15:30 , Jamie BraidwoodChampionship side Wrexham host Chelsea in the fifth round of the FA Cup today, with both clubs looking to book a place in the last eight as they face off at the Racecourse Ground.
The Welsh side, who have found recent success after the involvement of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, are looking for the biggest result since the takeover as they welcome the Blues, and are hoping to make the quarter-finals for just the third time in their history.
